When shaping this list I took several things into account - accessibility, balance, variety and accurate representation of a state's importance/output. That being said, it's mostly just the quality of music and hopefully a few of these albums (and artists) will be new to the vast majority:

I did leave out some decent albums out and I'm fully aware that the one album per artist scheme isn't really fair representation. What I might do in the future to make up for this is either post an additional fifty albums that didn't make the cut (in the same vein as above list) or just go all out and extend this to a top 200 - a normal top 200 with potentially multiple albums per artist and proper order from best to worst.

Obviously this is where you get to vent or complain about how I left out a Big K.R.I.T. album (I have two other Mississippi residents in his place) or have Tha Carter III down as Wayne's best album, which I won't change by the way (I'd be kidding myself if I went for the routine choice with each artist).

Do voice your opinions though!

Update:

Big K.R.I.T. is overrated by virtue of slightly more interesting subject matter than his peers, critical acclaim and hype. I also think people put him on a very high pedestal because he goes against a lot of clichés associated with modern southern rappers...

He has yet to do anything really outstanding in my eyes and there's a fine line between an album and a mixtape. I'm not saying that he isn't a very good artist but he had a lot of competition.

As for the Geto Boys album, Grip It! is far more accomplished lyrically and definitive in almost every aspect.

Update 2:

I just couldn't fit Asamov in there and I thought Willie Evans Jr. had the superior album between them. They've been bettered by other inclusions in this list with a similar sound I feel...

Update 3:

My bad Banjo - I completely mixed it up with their debut. Had a dude hiccuping like crazy...

I couldn't leave Grip It! out and a slightly repackaged album isn't going to do that much to impede on a certified classic, however suspect that may sound.

The fact that yahoo is acting up is really going to take the feasibility out of this...

Update 4:

I'm glad I extended this...

Update 5:

I can't recall Grey Skies being critically praised nationwide, in fact it has a reputation as an overlooked album that's merely collected a few nods down the years thanks to David Banner's solo success and some mild hearsay.

20 Answers

Dope, quite a few of my picks made the cut. Mad props on including David Banner and Supa Dupa Fly, that album is so overlooked. So Missy might not be the most "lyrical" rapper, but the production on that album is great. Some of Timbaland's best work.

I was slightly surprised to see Fly or Die make cut, but I actually like that album a lot, so that's a good look. Big KRIT is probably my favorite Southern rapper atm, but I see what you mean about the amount of competition. Also, any Southern hip-hop albums list that includes Soul Food or Little Brother/Phonte material gets my vote. As a Southerner, I approve of this list lol. Nice to see a Z-Ro album listed too.

Great picks. But just about everything Big KRIT's released is better than Crook By Da Book in my opinion. If anyone gets too much hype it's Project Pat or Juvenile. But there's not much to criticize here because it's a solid list considering you can only choose an artist once. Good work.

Log in to reply to the answers

What do you think of the answers? You can sign in to give your opinion on the answer.

I'm pretty pleased. You chose ATLiens over Aquemini, Witchdoctor and K-Otix is in there and Cohesive is one of my most beloved albums. Proppity prop props for Spirit Agent too. It just makes me happy to see how many gems the south has, I know you left off a grip of great albums but anyone saying the south is depthless and artificial needs to marinate on this list.

Log in to reply to the answers

Anonymous

8 years ago

You win.

Out of curiosity though. Why no Asamov?

EDIT: Word, the list is solid. Props on the Collective Efforts and Bleubird additions, I forgot about them....

You left off Crooked Lettaz GREY SKIES. List is hella suspect just off that. Banner & Kamikaze created a classic that was crtically praised nationwide. I would put it before ANY other Mississippi album on this list mos def. Although the ones you have are definitely worthy!!

And although KRIT will at some point be on this list nows too soon imo.